Evidence found during an illegal search is known as what?

Evidence found during an illegal search is termed "fruit of a poisonous tree." This legal metaphor describes evidence obtained as a result of a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. The reasoning behind this principle is that if the initial search (the "tree") is illegal or tainted, any evidence derived from it (the "fruit") is also considered tainted and is typically inadmissible in court. This plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of the legal process and discouraging law enforcement from conducting unlawful searches.

The other options do not appropriately capture the essence of evidence obtained through improper methods. Contaminated evidence refers to evidence that has been altered or compromised, while libelous pertains to written defamation, and exculpatory evidence is that which can exonerate a defendant. None of these terms convey the legal implications associated with evidence collected via an illegal search.